Sheiku Adams: Two men burst into flat before father died fleeing from window, Old Bailey told

A COURT has heard how two men, one armed with a knife, burst into a Kentish Town flat before a father fled through the window and died.

Sheiku Adams, 48, died when he climbed out of a window from his third-floor home in Denyer House on October 25 last year. Four people from Wolverhampton are standing trial at the Old Bailey accused of man­slaughter in connection with his death.

Mr Adams’ wife, Kerry Adams, told jurors that on the night she heard a noise from the hinges of the gate at the home where they had lived for 13 years.

She said two men came running in, one shouting “Where’s the bag?” and holding a five-inch knife. The second man began looking around the flat. “The first man was making a jabbing movement at my husband,” she said. “Saying ‘Where’s the bag? Where’s the bag?’”

Asked by prosecutor Allison Hunter whether Mr Adams recognised the men, she said: “From what I could tell, no he did not.” She said she did not recognise them either. “[Mr Adams] started backing away and the guy continued coming forward. My husband stood up on the sofa where he had been sitting. He moved around the sofa. I said: ‘What bag are you talking about?’”

She told the men: “Tell me. Whatever you want, you can have it. Take it,” the court heard.

Mr Adams then went out of the window, she said.

Asked by Ms Hunter whether there had ever been a discussion about going out of the window before, Ms Adams said there had been when they had a fire alarm fitted. Mr Adams had said he would flee fire through the window. Ms Adams said: “I think he thought it wouldn’t be fatal. He said you might break a leg or hip bone.”

The two men then fled the flat and Ms Adams called emergency services. The defendants drove down from Wolver­hampton on the evening of the incident, the court was told.